Steering-gear.



D. E. ROSS.

STEERING GEAR. y l APPLICATION FILED MIAR. I9. I9I3 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

lkw/z Patented May 23, 1916,

D. E. ROSS.

STEERING GEAR. APPLICATION/men MAR.19. 1913.

l l 84,38%. Patented May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WTNESSES I [./VVENTOR Home] [entran srarns ,entrenar DAVID E. ROSS, 0F LA FAYETTE, ilNDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 ROSS GEAR ANDl TOOL COMI- PATY, OF LA EYETTE' ENLDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDANA.

I semaine-enen.

nastiest.

ling is a full7V clear, and exact description,

thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. l

This invention is a novel 'steering gear for automobiles, motor boats, and the like; and has particular l'reference to mechanism yfor positively-holding and shifting the ball.-

arm, or steering crank; and its object is to provide a steering gear whereby the vehicle steering wheels can be readily shifted, as desired, and will be safely held in any adjusted position without liability of danger from the motion being reversed; that is of any strain on the vehicle wheels or steering-v parts for which I desire protection.

In said drawings z--Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the steering head embodying the at present preferred form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fig. l. Fig. 3' is a section on line 3 3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 illustrates a modification of the construction.

Specification of Lettersatent.

Patented May 23, 19H5.

Application filed March 19, 1913. Serial No. 755,354.

lever la; and' 'to the opposite arms of this lever, at opposite sides of `the shaft i and,

equi-distant therefrom, are attached similar but oppositely disposed shoes 2 and 3, which shoes are respectively pivoted on studs 2b, 3b on the arms of lever la. A tie-bar 1e is secured to the studs at the sides of the shoes 2 and 3, opposite thelever la, by bolts 2, 32l as shown.

The shoes, `2 and 3, engage oppositely facing cams. 1n Fig. l the opposite cams or cam surfaces, 4x and 4Y, are formed ona cam lmember 4 which is supported in the casing l designates a rocker-shaft., which isV journaledin a lateral 'tubular extension 9 of a casing or housing 9, in which 'the prin-l cipal operative parts of the steering gear are inclosed. Un the outer end of this rocker-shaft is mounted a ball-arm, or steering-crank l, which may be of any suitable construction and connected in the usual way to the cranks on the guiding wheels of the vehicle. To the inner end of this rocker- Shaft 1 is fiXedly secured a double armed adjacent the end of the shaft l, and preferably lies between the shoes 2 and 3 as shown in Fig. 1. The cam member 4 is formed or rigidly connected with an integral worm threaded head 4a which eugages a worm 5 that is formed on or connected with the steering shaft 6. For convenience of assembling, the head 4a may be made in the form of a half-worm-nut, but obviously could be made a cylindrical wormnut j and wholly surround worm 5. In either case it will be seen that if the worm 5 is rotated, cam member 4 will be moved transversely of the shaft 1, and will, by reason of the engagement of its opposite cam' faces 4X and 4f with the faces of thev shoes 2 and 3, cause shaft l to rock either right or left, according to the direction of the 'movement of the cam member 4.

The cam surfaces 4x, 4Y, which engage the shoes 2 and 3, are so proportioned and `theparts so adjusted that close contact is always maintained between such surfaces and the shoes. 1f the cam 4 is moved down, Fig.

v1, the shoe 3 will be forced to the left thus rocking shaft 1 clockwise; and if the cam 4 be moved up, Fig. l, the shoe 2 will be forced to the left and rock the'shaft 1 anti-clock wise. The shoes and cam are preferably rel- ,atively'so proportioned and adjusted that close engagementwill always be maintained between the faces of the shoes with the respective opposed cam surfaces of the cam member 4. As the cam 4 is moved by a worm or screw the pitch of the threads can be such that no movement will be imparted to the cam 4 in either direction by pressure exerted reversely onfthe' shaft l; and the shaft 1l be positively locked against actuation by the shoes 2 and 3 engaging cam member 4. By altering the cam surfaces and the I pitch of the `worm threads the gear can be made semi-back locking; that is if the pitch of the cams was more nearly straight-and the pitch of the worm screw was greater, the steering-crank might produce a slight rotary effect upon the steering wheel, or shaft 6, but so slight that the drivers would experience no inconvenience orI danger therefrom.

The cam member 4 can be readily shifted l transversely of the shaft 1 by rotating worm 5 and this rotation of the worm 5 can be effected with comparatively little eort but will, through the cam and slices, roclc the shaft 1 more slowly and with great power.

The pitch of the worm or screw threads is such that' rotary/movements of the worm will suffice to move the rocker-shaft 1 through the greatest arc required in steering the vehicle. l

The Worm 5 may be connected to a steering snaft 6, and mounted in thecasing 9 in any suitable way, and be of any preferred construction. Preferably as shown in the drawings, the worm 5 isprovided with a hollow trunnion 5fL at its upper end` and av hollow trunnion 5b at its lower end, Which trunnions are journaled in bearings formed in cylindric extensions 9c and 9d of the casing 9, such extensions being at' right angles to the 1 extensions 9a of the casing. The worm 5 is provided near its lower end with a step flange 51 which is supported on ballthrust bearings 7 of'suitable construction; and the upper end of the trunnion 5a also has a bearing against a ball-thrust bearing 7'a which may be secured in the tubular extension 9 by a tubular bushing 7" in `the usual manner. The steering shaft 6 preferably has its lower end entered into the socket in the cylindric upper end 5n of the Worm,`and made fast thereto by brazing, or in anyv other suitable manner, so that the worm and steering shaft are practically integral.

As shown, the steering shaft is incloscd in an ordinary casing tube 8`attached to the housing 9; and the control tube 8a, throttle tube 8, and spark controlling rod 8d, extend axially through the hollow steering shaft and worm, in the usual manner. These parts may be of any desired construction, and are not features of the present invention, which resides in the novel means for positively operating the rocker-shaft and holding it in any `adjusted position.

The essential novel feature of the invention is the cam member engaging opposed members on the rocker-shaft in such manner that with equal longitudinal travel on the part of the curved surfaces, each increment of travel of thecam member produces an equal angle of revolution of the rocker-shaft for such travel; and, the angular travel per 046 unit of longitudinal travel remains constant.

Thev curves of the cam surfaces on the cam member however may be so generated that a minimum of angular travel: (is )produced when the cam member is in mid position, and a maximum of travel produced when the cam member is in either extreme position; this would result in a slow moving backlocked steering gear in mid position and a rapidly acting semi-back-locked steering gear in the extreme positions.

The cam member has its cam surfaces so generated that the shoes on the rock-shaft 1 -always remain in close contact with the op,-l

surf..ces and engages between the shoes onl the rocker-shaft; as this enables any wea;` on they cams tobe easily compensated for by adjusting the rocker-shaft l laterally toward the worm 5; this can be easily accomplished by mounting the rocker-shaft 1 in an eccentric bushing llc, see Fig. 2, Within the bearing ,9"1, and if any wear develops the shaft l can be moved laterally by slightly rotating the bushing 1c in the-bearing 9a so as to bring both shoes into close engagement with their opposed cam surfaces. The ec- .in which the'cam ,member has exteriorcain'- centric bushing 1 may be securelffa'stened in adjusted position by clamping the split tubular extension 9% thereon by means cfa tap. bolt lt as shpwn in Fig. 3, or by any other preferred means.'

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the major cam 4 is formed With opposite concave cam surfaces 4W, 4" which arerespecmounted as described on the lever 1aattached to the rocker-shaft ll; said cam member being engaged with the worm 5 and operated thereby as above described. This cam member may be made in one piece and the wear taken up by adjusting the shaft 1 in its eccentric bushing as above described; or the cam member may be made in two pieces as shown, rigidly fastened together by bolts. andnuts 4, 4m, on their meeting ends, `so that the opposed cam surfaces may be more conveniently machined.

The'operation of this modification will-be clearly understood from the above descrip- -tively engaged by the shoes 2", 3", pivotally -l tion of the preferred form; and it is obvious in the drawings, as whenit is clearly undermasses stood a skilled mechanic can change .the appearance of the partsA While retaining the essential characteristics of lthe invention.

What I claim is: A x

l. rIhe combination of a rocker-shaft, opposite cams, and means for moving said cams transversely' of said rocker-shaft, a double armed lever connected with said rocker-shaft adjacent the cams, and shoes pivotally connected with said lever at opposite sides of the shaft .and respective-ly engaging the opposite cams.

2i The combination of a rocker-shaft, a cam member having similar opposite cam surfaces, a worm shaft and connections for moving the member transversely of said rocker-shaft; With pivoted shoes connected with said rocker-'shaft and engaging the. opposite cam surfaces of said cam member.

3., The combination of a rocker-shaft, a

cam member having similar opposite cam surfaces, and means for moving said cam member transversely of said rocker-shaft a double armed lever connected with said rocker-shaft adjacent 'the cam member, and. shoes pivotally connected With said lever at opposite sides of the shaft and respectively engaging the opposite cam surfaces of said cam member.

4f. The combination of a rocker-shaft, a cam member having similar opposite cam surfaces, and means for moving said cam.

` member transversely of said rocker-shaft;

with a double armed lever connected With said rocker-shaft adjacent the cam member,

and shoes pivotally connected with said le` ver at opposite sides of the shaft and respectively engaging the opposite cam surfaces of said cam member.

5. In a steering gear, the combination of 'a rocker-shaft, a double armed lever on said shaft, shoes connectedto said lever at opposite sides of the shaft and equi-distant from the axis thereof, a cam member having similar but opposite cam surfapes respectively'engaging the opposite shoes, and means for moving said cam member transversely ofthe shaft.

6, In a steering gear, the combination ofl arockershaft,adouble armed lever on said shaft, shoes pivotally connected to said lever at opposite sides of the 'shaft and equi-distant from theaxis thereof, a cam member having similar but opposite cam surfaces respectively engaging the opposite shoes, a rotatable worm, and a Worm nut on said cam member engaging said Worm, and means for operating the Worm.

7. In a, steering gear, the combination of a rocker-shaft, a double armed lever on said shaft, shoes pivotally connected to said lever at opposite sides of the shaft and equidistant from the axis thereof, a cam member interposed between the shoes having similar but oppositely facing cam surfaces engaging the shoes, and means for moving said cam member transversely of the shaft.

8. In a steering gear, the combination of a rockeishafha double armed lever on said shaft, shoes pivotally connected to said lever at opposite sides of theshaft and equi-distant from the axis thereof, a cam member interposed between the shoes having similar but opposite cam surfaces respectively engaging the opposite shoes, a rotatable Worm, a Worm-nut 'on said cam member engaging said Worm, and means for operating the Worm.

9. In a steering gear, a final driven member, an intermediate member, and a primal means of producing longitudinal motion of said intermediate member, said motion being transverse to the final rotating member, said intermediate member carrying opposed cam faces so arranged as to produce positive or negative rotation of said final driven member as longitudinal motion on said intermediate member is positive or negative.

l0. In a steering gear, a final driven memberan intermediate member, and a primal means of producing longitudinal motion of said intermediatemember, said intermediate member having opposed curved surfaces so arranged with respect to a final driven rotating member that with longitudinal motion in one direction on said intermediate member, one curved surface will force clockwise rotation on the final driven member and 'longitudinal motion. in the opposite direction on said intermediate member will cause the said opposed-curved surface to produce anticlockwisev motion on said final driven member. y

11. In a steering gear, a final driven member, an intermediate member, and a primal means of producing longitudinal motion of said intermediate member, said intermediate member having opposed curved surfaces so arranged with respect to a final driven rotating member that With longitudinal motion in one direction on said intermediate member, one curved surface will force clocli- Wise rotation on the final driven member, and longitudinal motion in the opposite direction on said intermediate `member Will cause said opposed curved surface to pro duce anti-.clockwise motion on said final driven member, and the said opposed curved surfaces so arranged that no excess of rotation can occur on said nal driven member beyond that forced by the driving curved surface, the opposed curved surface resisting excess of rotation in the final driven member.

l2. In a -steering gear, the primal member producing a motion on a secondary member which motion is transverse to a final rockershaft member` the secondary member having opposed curved surfaces so arranged that said curved surfaces are always in contact with suitable contact arms on said rockersliaft and a means of adjustment for such.

contacts on said curves and arms.

13. In a steering gear, a member to be operated, devices connected with said member at points equi-distant therefrom, a cam member having similar but opposite cam surfaces engaging said devices, and means for moving the cam member at right angles to the member to be operated thereby causing the opposite movement of the devices.

14. In a steering gear, the combination of a member to be operated, devices connected with said member at equi-distant points, a cam member having similar but opposite cam surfaces engaging said devices, and means for moving the cam member at right angles to the member to be operated thereby causing thel opposite movement of the de vices. Y

l5. In a steering gear, the combination of a rockerjshaft, members connected therewith y 4and equi-distant therefrom, a cam member having similar but opposite cam surfaces engaging and holding said members, and means for moving said cam member. at right angles to the rocker-shaft thereby causing the shifting of said, members and the rocking of the shaft. l

16. In a steering gear, the combination of a member to be operated, opposite'devices connected with said member at equi-distant points, a cam member having similar but opposite cam surfaces engaging said members,

f and means for moving the cam member transversely of the shaft, thereby causing the oppositemovement of the shoes.

17. In a steering gear, the combination of 'posite shoes, a worm, a worm-nut engaging said cam member, and means for operating l l said Worm.

19. The combination of arocker-shaft, a A

memberhaving similar opposite cam surfaces, and means for moving sald cam member transversely of said rocker-shaft; wlth shoes connected with said' rocker-shaft and' frictionally engaging the opposite cam' surfaces of said cam member. Y

20. In av steering gear, a final drive mem-l ber, an intermediate member, a primal means for producing longitudinal motion of said intermediate member, transverselyfof .said final drive member, said intermediate member having similar but oppositely facing camsurfaces engaging said final drive member, whereby the longitudinal motion of said intermediate lmember produces rotation of the nal drive member. i,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature vin presence of two witnesses.

DAVID E'ROSS. v Witnesses:

Geo. C. KUMMING, D. L. Ross. 

